Your phone could be causing your acne- Research

ruby orimba

July 19, 2017 4:25 PM

Don't be so quick to pick up that call.

___7016369___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___7016369___2017___7___19___15___phone

Yes, your phone could be the reason behind your acne.

Bacteria is one of the major causes of acne and according to research done by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 82 percent of the phones tested had some sort of bacteria on their screens.

The study involved taking 780 swab samples from, various people. Half were phones and the others were of the owners' hands.

The researchers gave two possible reasons why your phone may the reason behind your persistent pimples.

1. Pressure

The mechanical stimulation that arises when you hold your phone to your skin makes your oil glands produce more oil that can cause acne.

2. Bacteria

The bacteria on the screen, usually gotten from how you use the phone, and heat provides an avenue for the bacteria to breed and cause blemishes.

Debra Jaliman, a dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist, says that her first question to her clients is how they use their phone.

"Here's the thing, which is why it's important to clean off your screen regularly. Anytime a patient comes in complaining about acne, the first thing I ask them is what side of their face they usually hold their phone against. If it's the same side that's breaking out, before I recommend any topicals or oral medications to target acne, I suggest that they use earphones or a headset while they're on the phone to see if that reduces their blemishes significantly."

So how do you handle acne prone skin when using your mobile phone?

1. Clean up

Always clean your screen before using the phone. This will prevent bacteria from moving to your face and causing skin breakouts and infections.

2. Use headphones

Instead of holding the phone directly to your face, use headphones or earphones to communicate. This should take care of both pressure and bacteria problems.

3. Change how you hold the phone

Instead of pressing it on to you skin, hold it lightly over your face and speak without it touching your face. Afterall, just how many times will you remember to carry headphones or clean up before picking a call right?